Death by a Thousand Cuts !

Nov

Death by a Thousand Cuts !

For those of you who haven’t had a chance to listen to my new podcast, Marin Dental Media, I’d like to share an excerpt of the last episode, “Death by a Thousand Cuts”.

To listen to the complete version of this episode and the previous two episodes on Over-The-Counter Teeth Whitening and Do-It-Yourself Clear Aligners, just go to your favorite podcast app and search for Marin Dental Media. I look forward to get your feedback and suggestions for new episodes.

Death by a thousand cuts was a form of torture used by the chinese as capital punishmentfor serious crimes in the last part of the nineteenth century. The idea was to prolong thesuffering of the condemned for as long as possible with small wounds before the personfinally died. Although you could say that the last cut was the one that killed the person,really it was a combination of all the previous injuries.

Today we use “Death by a thousand cuts” as a metaphor for minor progressive changesthat by themselves may go unnoticed but when put together have a significant negativeimpact .

A tooth breaks down in a gradual process. Most of the times when a patient comes with abroken tooth, their complain is “I was just eating a piece of bread” or I was eating a fry,it wasn’t even hard”. The truth is that it wasn’t the last bite that broke the tooth, thetooth had been gradually getting worse and worse over time without even being noticed.

In dental practice we routinely identify injuries caused by sudden trauma, that is whensomeone sustains a sudden impact that causes obvious damage. A punch in the mouth thatknocks a tooth out is what we would consider Macro-trauma. But the consequences ofmicro-trauma often fly under the radar. Micro-trauma is caused by a continuous negativeevent. Such is the case of excessive compression of the teeth from grinding. When teethare pressed together, that force is transferred to the root and the support structures ofthe tooth. When pressure is held down, we pinch the membrane that attaches the tooth tothe jaw, we create a slowing down of the circulation that comes to the tooth through a tinyopening at the end of the root. With limited blood supply and poor oxygen reaching thetooth and its surrounding tissues, there are biologic changes that ultimately result intissue destruction. Much like if you were to leave a tourniquet in one of your limbs for toolong, that part of your body would wither and die; when you pinch blood supply to the teethand gums, they become oxygen deprived and die. This ultimately results in receding gums,loose and shifting teeth, nerve death, root fractures and potential tooth loss.

If you have any questions about this or any other dental subjects you can write to dentalmedialibrary@gmail.com or call (626)810-5000in West Covina or (714)529-2626 in the city of Brea.

Thank You.

Oscar Marin DDS.

Oct

It’s “Go” Time

Do you often find yourself in “procrastination” mode?

You’re not alone, most people wait until last minute to take action, however, you are not most people, and you understand that there may never be a better time to act on your plans than now.

We sometimes tend to wait for all the planets to align or for all the lights to go green before heading to town, and by the time we decide to take action, we’re hit with the painful reality of being late to take advantage of unique opportunities.

This is an invitation to act now. It’s “go” time. Don’t wait for the new year. Start your diet today, read that book, hike the trail. Better yet, stop yourself from doing things that don’t contribute to your personal enrichment like binge watching Netflix series or endlessly scrolling down social media feeds. Opportunities are created, sometimes all it takes is a phone call or even a text.

So, what are you waiting for?

It’s now or never!

Go!

Oscar Marin DDS

“Helping patients out of Dental Procrastination”

Phone: 714-529-2626

28

Sep

YOUR MOUTH, NOT A COMMODITY

A product or service is valuable when it is rare and unique. Once it starts becoming abundant and easy to find anywhere, it loses its value and becomes a commodity. Dentistry as a service was once in short supply and was perceived as a very valuable service. Today you can walk into any commercial plaza or street mall and you can find a dental office tucked between the nail salon and the donut shop.

This abundant supply of dental providers has created a change in people’s perception and even within the dental community toward the value of dental services. Dental offices have been trying to gain the upper hand by bringing the cost of services down. However, this strategy that is so effective for common goods like salt and cotton and ultimately benefit the consumer, has the opposite effect in health services because in order to lower the cost of dental services, a dental provider has to cut corners by looking for cheaper materials, outdated technology, laboratories with questionable practices and poorly qualified staff members.

Your mouth is not a common good. You have unique needs that require careful evaluation by highly qualified providers. It is a huge mistake to “shop around” for the lowest cost dentist you can find because what is at risk is your health. You don’t look for the most affordable cardiologist or obstetrician, you look for qualifications and positive outcomes. The same criteria should be used when finding any other healthcare provider.

During my dental training, I had the opportunity to practice in remote rural areas of Colombia where people have no access and no resources to pay for dental services. Since we worked with portable dental equipment, we were only able to provide them with the very basic services, like dental fillings and extractions. People were very appreciative, but I always felt somewhat frustrated for not being able to offer better dental care. I promised myself then that as long as I was able to afford it, I would strive to give my patients access to the best available dentistry.

Today, at our two offices in West Covina and Brea, we have the resources to provide our patients with the best that dentistry has to offer. We set it up that way, because we believe that we can’t approach today’s dental problems with last century’s technology. I love ancient dental equipment because it reminds me of the dentistry my dad and uncles used to provide, but there are very clear limitations to what you can find and treat using outdated dental techniques and equipment.

Don’t shortchange your dental health. When it comes to the health of your smile, you only get one chance to get it right.

If you know somebody with a bad experience with the dentist. Whether it is your spouse, parents, family or a coworker, let us know. Our doctors are available for a quick conversation over-the-phone, by email, text or in person.

In West Covina (626)810-5000
Brea (714)529-2626
Text (626) 660-6439

We can help you change someone’s life !

We know that every stage of your life is special, that’s why we will turn your age into real money !

Call us for details !

9

Aug

RESTORING GOOD FAITH IN

DENTISTRY

By Dr. Oscar Marin

For me dentistry is never been just about fixing someone’s teeth. Of course, I enjoy the immediate gratification of giving my patients the ability to chew and smile confidently, but to me it is very clear that I’m looking to create a deeper connection with my patients as individuals, parents, employees, business owners, retirees, etc.

I enjoy more than anything to hear their stories and the circumstances that led to the current state of their dental health. On a daily basis I hear different stories about why someone decided not to trust or to be afraid of the dentist and every time I think I’ve heard the worst, I’m surprised by a new, even more chaotic account. It is no wonder so many people have poor associations with the dentist. One of the most common complains I hear is that the dentist continues to work despite the patient not being completely numb. Some patients complain of discomfort and they are ignored, dismissed and even told not to be a “baby” (this last one actually happened to one of my most apprehensive patients). I have even been told of dentists that hit their patients and the patient just sat there and said nothing because they just thought that is the way dentists behaved. No wonder people end up hating the dentist.

This is why a large part of my consult isn’t necessarily solving clinical dental problems but restoring faith in dentistry and reassuring patients that there’s quite a few of us who are genuinely interested in helping and caring about the person. It is unfortunate that there are so many examples of poor dental experiences to choose from, but this has fueled my passion to create a practice where we can generate a positive experience for our patients from an early age. Starting with our youngest patients, we have established the tooth fairy phone calls program, where kids within a certain age range get a call from the tooth fairy whenever they come to the office, lose a baby tooth or even just to encourage them to do a better job with their home care. For our more skeptical patients or those with traumatic past experiences, we can schedule an office tour where they can stop by and get acquainted with our wonderful staff, the doctor and get some of their questions answered in a non-threatening environment before they even decide to become a patient with us. From beginning to end, the patient has all the control, they can even decide to get a second opinion in-house with one of our experienced providers and whether they choose to stay with us or not, we guarantee that they will come out with all the information they need to make an educated decision about their health.

We’re continuously working to become a greater contribution to our patients beyond what we can do for them in the dental chair. Yes, we treat cavities and gum problems like other dentists, but I take my role as a trusted healthcare advisor very seriously. We look at all the factors that may be having a negative impact in the patient’s wellbeing and help them find ways to improve that. On an average day we discuss anything from stress management to the importance of an active social life”.

There’s no real help unless you evaluate all the factors that play a role in the patient’s health like airway, diet, sleep habits, medications etc. It’s easy to put a crown on a broken tooth, but the broken tooth is just the result of a set of circumstances that led to breakdown.

Our patient community has been critical in helping others overcome the fear to the dental visit. Whether it is your spouse or a coworker, you can also help encourage someone who has a history of poor dental experiences. Our doctors are available for a quick conversation over-the-phone, by email, text or in person.

Let us know how we can help you change someone’s life!

In West Covina (626)8100-5000

Brea (714)529-2626 Text (626) 660-6439

Email: drmarindds@hotmail.com

Follow us on facebook and Instagram: @breasmiledesign

P.S. Beginning in august for every new patient that you refer to our practice, we will reward you with a $25 gift card of your choice of Target or Best Buy.

There is no cap on how many people you can refer !

Your confidence in our practice is extremely appreciated and this is our fun way of thanking you for spreading the word !!

Jul

Gum Disease in Plain English

What is the difference between Gingivitis, Receding Gums and Gum Disease?

The main difference between Gingivitis and Gum Diseaseis that Gingivitis is Inflammation of the soft tissue around your teeth and Gum Disease is Infection of the gum and bone that supports your teeth. They are both caused by the same agent, Plaque and tartar build up, bacteria and trauma.

Inflammation is the swelling of tissues that happens when you sustain an injury. If you hit your thumb with a hammer, your thumb will get swollen, but since the hammer stopped hitting, the swelling will eventually subside

If on the other hand, you get a splinter in your foot, and you don’t get it out, there will be inflammation at first, but eventually, your body will start a reaction to get rid of the foreign object. Your defense mechanism kicks into action and starts sending chemicals to destroy the splinter and “kill” the tissue around it. It becomes infected and a pocket of pus (dead tissue) develops, carving a path that allows drainage of toxins from the infected area to the outside.

RECEDING GUMS

Receding Gums is the way the gums scar for some individuals. It happens due to severe friction from brushing, compression from teeth grinding, inflammation or infection of the gums and even from cheek muscle pull. Once receded, gums can only be placed back through surgical procedures that involve grafting of tissue or detaching and repositioning the gums.

GINGIVITIS

GIngivitis is usually reversible once the causing stimulus has been removed. It may also be caused by certain medications and from dry mouth due to mouth breathing.

GUM DISEASE OR PERIODONTITIS

In your mouth, the tartar build up is stuck like barnacles to a pier. Gum disease is the reaction your immune support has to kick the tartar build up out of your system, the only problem, your tooth and tartar build up have become one, so Gum Disease is your body killing the bone and membrane that holds the teeth in order to get rid of the offending agent.

Another common cause for Gum Disease is bite trauma. Severe compression from unconscious teeth grinding causes “choking” of the blood and oxygen to the teeth and its support structures leading to breakdown and triggering the immune system response.

Gum disease cause by bacteria and the one caused by trauma look very similar. In fact, in most cases it is cause by a combination of these factors. Treating the build up without addressing the bite will lead to limited results and vice versa.

Gingivitis and Gum Disease can go unnoticed for years since in most cases the symptoms are mild and many dental practitioners neglect to screen patients periodically.

Other factors that may influence the development of gum problems include, diet, stress and some medical conditions. The mouth is a delicate environment that requires continuous monitoring. Your gums need to be evaluated once a year with X-Rays and a screening of gum pocket measurements; more often if there is a history of gum problems.

Call 714-529-2626now to schedule your Smile Assessment with one of our expert dentists and start enjoying the benefits of a great smile today.

Until AUGUST 31, Enjoy Your Next Cleaning and Save $35.

Jun

Pearls of Wisdom

When wisdom teeth “decide” to make an entrance

Not everyone needs to have their wisdom teeth removed. There are some people that have enough room in their mouth to accommodate all wisdom teeth in the right place; others never develop them and some people have them so deeply impacted that it is riskier to take them out than to leave them there. The problem arises when there’s not enough room but they still want to show up. Since there is not enough room in the jaw, they have to squeeze between the last molar and the jaw bone and get stuck partially showing in a very difficult position.

The now exposed wisdom tooth pushes on the gum tissue around it causing inflammation and creating a pocket that is very challenging to keep clean for the patient and in most cases even for the dental professional. The pocket around the tooth gets filled with food debris that get infected causing an abscess. This leads to further compression by the molars in the other arch and an escalating discomfort and inability to function properly. Other problems associated with wisdom teeth are bone loss, root damage to neighbor teeth, shifting and bite changes from pressure.

Most dental offices set up time in their schedule for emergencies, the problem is that an infected wisdom tooth is rarely a quick procedure and not all dental offices have the necessary equipment to determine if it is safe to remove the offending tooth without causing harm to neighbor structures. Because of this, the patient is usually sent home with a prescription for antibiotics and a referral to an Oral Surgeon.

To avoid this kind of scenario, it is important to evaluate the wisdom teeth since about age 14. Sometimes we can detect problems from an early age. The ideal time to remove wisdom teeth is as late teens or early 20s. Usually at this age, the bone around wisdom teeth is not dense enough and the roots haven’t completed its development allowing for a more predictable procedure and much shorter post-operative healing process. There are more risks associated with removing wisdom teeth once the roots have finished growing.

There is never a good time to get wisdom teeth removed, but based on my experience, they mostly decide to flare up at the worse time forcing patients to miss days of school or work. Make sure you arrange for it to happen on your terms.

A wisdom teeth screening is an essential part of the comprehensive exam for everyone but especially for patients in the described age range. If you have questions regarding this or any other dental surgery needs, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Phone (714)529-2626

Visit:

doctormarin.com/about-us/our-dental-office-staff

9

May

Call for Appointment - (714) 529-2626​

THE SILVER GENERATION

The last decades of the 20th century were filled with great technological advances and dentistry was not the exception. On of the most welcomed changes was the advent of metal free restorations. I was born in the seventies and as you probably know, I grew up among dentists and all the awesome instruments that dentists at the time had to use to mold, press and burnish metal fillings into people’s mouths. So if you lived in those times, chances are you had some, if not a mouthful of silver fillings.

These days, silver fillings and metal caps are becoming a rarity. Most dental offices have switched to the more cosmetic composite and ceramic materials. That means that people like me who still have silver in their mouths, have had those fillings for two or more decades, and that is a pretty good track record of durability if you ask me. In fact, if you still have silver fillings, it is likely there’s some grey in your hair too.

With all the different opinions about keeping or removing the silver in your mouth I couldn’t help but chime in with mine based on my 20 years of seeing these restorations at work. So, here’s some things to keep in mind:

* We mostly rely on visual clues to determine the right time for taking action because in most cases, a tooth won’t hurt unless the damage has become too advanced to fix conservatively.

* Metal blocks the X Rays, so it is possible to overlook cavities that are developing under metal restorations.

* A gap develops between the tooth and the filling over time, allowing direct bacterial colonization of sensitive core tooth structures.

* Replacing large silver fillings is risky and in many cases it requires removal of additional tooth structure making the tooth easy to break unless a crown or cap is used to cover the tooth.

If you’re part of the proud Silver Filling generation and would like to know the current condition of your fillings, let us know on your next visit and we’ll take some intraoral photographs and discuss your most immediate needs.

In fact, until June 30, if you need or want any of your metal restorations replaced, you get 10% off such treatment. Just mention that you are part of the “Silver Generationl” and we’ll apply the discount to your treatment.

Apr

Call for Appointment - (714) 529-2626​

The Revenge Of The Sugar Bugs

What is Recurrent Caries and Why you should know about it.

The first time a cavity happens, bacteria have to work really hard for months or years to pierce through the enamel, but once in the dentin layer, decay can cause damage on the inside a lot faster and make it to the nerve in a matter of weeks.

Worse than having a cavity is getting decay on the same tooth again. To treat a tooth with a cavity we have to drill through the enamel into the softer dentin layer and then the hole is plugged with a silver alloy or a synthetic tooth colored material. Over time, there’s differences in the way dental materials and tooth structures behave under the continuous strain of the bite, this pressure causes cracks, chips and small gaps to develop between the tooth and the filling. This gap is colonized by bacteria that can then reproduce and continue the destruction many times without being detected. Because enamel is so hard to break and has virtually no organic material, bacteria take the path of least resistance causing progressive damage on the inside without significant external signs. This second occurrence of decay around or under dental work is called recurrent caries, and if it takes a long time to brew, it may not cause pain until the tooth is in a very advanced state of decomposition or the tissues around the tooth have gotten infected. The tooth may only develop symptoms once the enamel shell collapses exposing the nerve of the tooth.

Recurrent decay is hard to detect because for the most part there are no external indications of damage and some dental materials block the X-Rays preventing us from seeing what is happening under them, but detecting it at its earlier stages is critical to minimize the extent of the damage to tooth structures. This is particularly important because during the dental exams, we find significantly more damage under existing dental work than newly developed cavities.

Despite all this, X Rays are still the most reliable way to know what is happening under dental work. Once the presence of internal damage has been found, you have a very small window of opportunity to act. As with any other medical procedures sometimes the extent of the damage is more than we anticipate, and as much as we love to do what we do, we always prefer to stay away from having to do root canal treatments or having to pull teeth out.

Some things you can do to prevent recurrent caries:

Avoid excessive pressure against teeth that have dental work. Ask your dentist if there’s any indications of teeth grinding and if you may be a good candidate for a custom night guard.

Call (714) 529-2626 to schedule a complimentary needs assessment

Mar

Frequently Asked Questions

My teeth don’t hurt, do I need to go to the dentist?

It is true that teeth don’t hurt when they’re ok. Teeth also don’t hurt if the nerve is dead or infected, if the damage happens very slowly or in some case, from the inside out.

Some cavities develop by bacteria piercing a tiny opening on the enamel, because enamel is so hard to break, bacteria take the path of least resistance causing progressive damage on the inside without significant external signs. It may only develop symptoms once the enamel shell collapses exposing the nerve of thee tooth.

My teeth look fine, do I need braces?

Some people with minor teeth shifting may not need to do any corrective alignment. There are multiple reasons why a dentist may recommend orthodontic treatment or braces. The most common one is to address misaligned or crooked teeth, since teeth that overlap may cause plaque retention areas that make the patient more at risk to develop cavities and gum problems. Other reasons for braces may include:

To close gaps

To correct an uneven bite

To restore adequate function

To correct a deep bite, and underbite or an open bite

To address problems of the jaw joint (TMJ)

To avoid damage to supporting structures like bone, gums and muscles

Before implants or bridges

Ask you dentist if you’re a good candidate for an orthodontic consultation.

My Gums bleed, do I need a deep cleaning

We used to think of gum disease as a condition caused exclusively by bacterial infection. Now we know that gums are affected by multiple factors like bite trauma, nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalances and even stress. A thorough evaluation that includes measurements of the gum pockets, teeth molds and bite records may be necessary to determine the best approach to treat this condition.

How do I know if I grind my teeth?

In general is hard for someone to know if they grind their teeth because it is considered an unconscious habit. Some people make noise that can be heard by roommates, others don’t grind but clench, which is mor eof a clamping down forcefully without moving the jaw side to side. Some signs of teeth grinding or clenching are chipping of the front teeth with flat or sharp edges, back teeth with dental work that continuously breaks and has to be redone or replaced, sore muscles of the face when shaving or applying makeup, teeth that feel lose. Your dentist can take a closer look to determine the extent of the habit. Teeth grinding could be a sign of a serious medical condition that prevents you from getting enough oxygen while you sleep, please talk to your dentist if you suspect you may be suffering from teeth grinding.

When do wisdom teeth have to be removed?

Usually when they represent a risk factor for neighbor teeth. Most people don’t have enough room for their wisdom teeth to grow adequately so they come crooked and get stuck creating pressure on the roots and support structures of neighbor teeth causing gum swelling, infections, root decay and plaque buildup. For most people these molars erupt between 16 and 21 years of age. If you need to get your wisdom teeth removed, it is a lot more convenient to schedule the procedure before they start developing symptoms. Some wisdom teeth infections have sent patients to the emergency room and in the worst cases could progress into a life threatening infection called Sepsis. Some people don’t develop wisdom teeth and others have them so deeply impacted that it’s riskier to remove them.